Farmers and communities east of Moses Lake and north of Warden, in Washington State’s Grant and Adams counties, are on the verge of a significant shift in how they access and use water. Thanks to a large-scale irrigation project under the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP), the region is taking critical steps to conserve groundwater, cut energy use, and secure the future of local agriculture.

Infrastructure Designed for Long-Term Impact
For years, the Odessa Subarea in central Washington has faced steadily declining groundwater supplies, largely because of minimal rainfall, heavy irrigation demands, and municipal well use. Now, a new system is set to change that. The OGWRP program will allow farmers to trade valid Odessa groundwater rights for surface water supplied by the Columbia Basin Project. This shift will reduce pressure on the overdrawn aquifer while supporting sustainable farming practices across the region.

The new irrigation system will draw water from the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District’s East Low Canal and deliver it through carefully designed infrastructure, which includes a major canal pump station, booster pump stations, canal turnouts, and an extensive network of irrigation pipelines.

Significant Water and Energy Savings
When the project is fully completed, the system will provide surface water irrigation to approximately 16,000 acres of farmland, allowing local agriculture to rely less on groundwater. The project has received strong support from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Washington State Department of Ecology, underlining its importance for the region’s agricultural and environmental future.

By taking 34 wells out of operation, the project will save an estimated 51,972 acre-feet — or roughly 17 billion gallons — of groundwater annually. In addition to water savings, the project will eliminate the need for groundwater pumping, conserving more than 52,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually.

Funding and Collaborative Effort
Bringing this project to life requires a substantial investment. The state of Washington has committed $44 million to support the construction of the new irrigation system. In addition, local farmers are contributing approximately $40 million in matching funds, demonstrating a strong regional commitment to the project. This public-private partnership highlights a shared commitment to protecting water resources and the agricultural communities that depend on them.